(SPRINGFIELD) … As Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich prepares to
present his budget proposal this Wednesday, Feb. 16, the Metropolitan Planning
Council (MPC) urges that the proposal fiscally
support
the basic needs at the very
core
of
a healthy statewide economy.
“For more than 70
years, MPC has worked to identify and advance strategies for reinvestment and
economic growth in
the
Chicago metropolitan region
and state
of
Illinois,” said MarySue Barrett, MPC
president. “In our 2005 policy agenda, we’ve pinpointed the state’s most
critical needs, many of which were committed to during the gubernatorial
election. We’re troubled that, more than halfway through Gov. Blagojevich’s
first term, so little attention has been paid to these basic building blocks of
a healthy economy.”
These “building blocks,”
which will drive MPC’s work in the coming months, include education funding
reform; property tax relief; improved workforce housing availability; better and
more efficient transportation planning and funding; and natural resource
preservation. Barrett acknowledged that these are sizeable problems requiring
careful consideration. However, she also noted that the state has the
responsibility to forge long-term solutions.
“One-time revenue
sources are no way to
fund
Illinois’ most basic needs, which include
education, housing, and transportation,” said Barrett. “We must identify lasting
fiscal solutions to prevent our problems from growing that much more severe
every 12 months.”
For instance, last year,
the governor raised the per-pupil education funding amount, also known as the
foundation level, by $154. However, the increase amounted to just $2 more than
the cost of inflation for the year, according to Consumer Price Index data
issued by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Worse,
Illinois
schools still
receive nearly $1,000 less per student than it takes to provide a quality
education, as recommended by the state’s own Education Funding Advisory Board in
2002. Also, the state made no investment last year in modernizing schools.
“Right now we are barely
keeping up with the rising costs of education, and every day that passes we fall
further behind,” said Bindu Batchu, manager of the A+ Illinois campaign for
statewide education funding and property tax reform, of which MPC is a member.
“This failure hurts our children, and jeopardizes the future of a competent
Illinois
workforce. And because the state won’t adequately fund education, schools are
asking local property taxpayers to shoulder the load, squeezing businesses
already strapped with excess fees.”
Another vital component of Illinois’ economic well-being
– its transportation network – is at a critical juncture. Northeastern Illinois’
transit system is operating on a 21-year-old funding formula that has outlived
its usefulness as regional
growth pressures increase demand for public transportation. If the General Assembly fails
to act,
the Chicago Transit Authority
faces severe cuts, and Metra will be unable to extend service. Meanwhile,
there is a pressing need for the state to identify
funds to match TEA-3, pending federal legislation that will allocate money for
transportation infrastructure, including the innovative public-private CREATE (Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency) project
to improve freight transportation.
“Without
a strong, reliable transportation network, the state’s day-to-day business slows
to a crawl, causing a giant ripple
effect
since Illinois is the nation’s
transportation hub,” said Peter Skosey, vice president of external
relations.
“Illinois’ current system
for funding and planning transportation is broken. We need a stronger and
streamlined regional entity accountable for connecting development and
transportation plans, resulting not only in administrative savings, but also
more sensible regional development patterns.”
In 2003,
Gov. Blagojevich demonstrated his commitment to achieving one key component of
sensible growth statewide by appointing a housing task force to improve access
to quality, affordable housing for people who need it most. Last month, the
task
force
released Illinois’ first comprehensive housing
plan, kicking of a multi-year agenda to reverse the statewide shortage of
affordable housing. In
northeastern
Illinois, the need for workforce housing is
particularly acute, as workers must move further and further from job centers
just to find affordable homes.
“The next step should
be to provide a competitive edge to towns that help the state stretch its
dollars and enhance quality of life by linking housing, jobs and transportation,”
said Robin
Snyderman, MPC housing
director. “The state should earmark funding to create new incentives for
affordable housing and to preserve current incentives, such as the Illinois
Affordable Housing Tax Credit.”
While quality housing
options, a reliable transportation network, and good schools make
Illinois
an attractive
place to live and work, as important to quality of life is land use planning
that preserves open space and protects natural resources. Last year, after the
budget slashed the Department of Natural Resources staff by one-third, the
administration proposed eliminating the Open Space Land Acquisition and
Development (OSLAD) grant fund and the Natural Areas Acquisition Fund (NAAF),
both important for expanding and preserving
Illinois
’ parks and open space.
“In response to pressure
from a coalition that included MPC and the Campaign for Sensible Growth, last
year funding for OSLAD and NAAF were reinstated,” said Ellen Shubart, manager of
the Campaign for Sensible Growth, which MPC co-chairs. “However, we anticipate a
similar battle this year, and will continue to urge a permanent funding source
for the Open Lands Trust Fund, which has been subject to cuts for the past five
years.”
“The governor must take leadership
to ensure that all of our residents have access to quality housing options,
better schools, convenient transportation systems, and healthy communities,”
said Barrett. “We urge Gov. Blagojevich not to let another year pass
without committing to a strategy for long-term fiscal well-being
in
Illinois.”